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posted by Dan Schaefer
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Recipe

DIY "Pupkin" Spice Latte for Dogs

The details
Louie the dog laps up a pupkin spice latte for dogs.
The details

This cozy puppy latte is the perfect healthy and delicious pumpkin dog treat for your pup to enjoy this fall! Why not hop on this trending pumpkin spice train and create a cozy puppy latte for your best friend at home?

Leaves are falling, nights are becoming crisper, and pumpkin is slowly enveloping everything on our shelves and feeds. It’s that time of year: pumpkin spice season! So why not hop on this trending train and create a cozy puppy latte for your best friend at home?

We created this super easy, awesome recipe for your pooch to enjoy. My dog loves this Starbucks-inspired puppuccino and simply could not get enough of it! Yay! With all of this time at home (thanks to covid), my skill set has been widening, and I am pleased to say that doggie barista has joined the growing list.

Louie the dog laps up a homemade pupkin spice latte.

For extra fun, you can turn your barista session into a festive photoshoot. Add some pumpkins, leaves, maybe even dress your doggy up in that adorable Halloween costume! Plus, the pumpkins make for great dog toys too, haha--well, at least Lou thought so.

Besides the seasonality, we love homemade pumpkin dog treats because of this fruit’s many health benefits. Pumpkin is a great every day addition to your dog’s diet, as it is rich in Vitamin C, fiber, and potassium, improving muscle health. It’s also high in beta-carotene, which converts into Vitamin A and improves eye, skin, and coat health. Low in carbohydrates and calories, pumpkin makes for a healthy treat for your furry friend, rich in nutrients and minerals like calcium and magnesium. For more information on feeding pumpkin to your pup, read our article on pumpkin for dogs.

Outside of this DIY dog treat recipe, you can easily introduce pumpkin to your dog’s diet by adding our organic pumpkin powder to their meals: simply sprinkle our powder on top of their food or mix with water to create a pumpkin puree. While canned pumpkin can be added to your pup’s food, it contains a high concentration of water (often 90-95%), which yields less of this nutritious fruit’s benefits. Consequently, one 15 ounce can/cup pumpkin puree is equivalent to approximately 2 tablespoons of our organic pumpkin powder. Be sure never to use pumpkin pie filling, which typically contains spices, added sugars, preservatives, and sugar substitutes like xylitol, which is deadly to dogs.

Native Pet Pumpkin Powder

For this Pupkin Spice Latte, you will need to use our organic pumpkin powder (as opposed to canned pumpkin because the pureed pumpkin is thick and slightly grainy) to achieve a smooth, latte-like consistency similar to the drink you’d pick up from Starbucks. To create this delicious and gluten-free pumpkin dog treat recipe, I used warm water and a small quantity of heated milk (microwaved for 60 seconds) to top it off. According to the AKC, milk is safe for dogs in small quantities. Since all dogs are different, try giving them a small amount (less than an ounce) to start. If your dog has a known dairy allergy, simply skip or substitute. Lastly, I topped it off with a sprinkle of pumpkin powder. I mixed the puppy latte in a short cup (a small mixing bowl works too) with a handheld, electric frother like this one from Amazon. I also used the handheld frother to froth the topper milk. If you prefer, you could top the puppuccino with whipped cream (be sure it does not contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs) and even add a dog biscuit or dog bone.

Dog drinking latte

For Louie, a small dog, I let him drink half of the puppy latte--although he wanted all of it--and he didn’t have any problems. That said, I think he could have consumed the whole pup cup without issue, but it is always best to err on the side of caution when introducing new treats or foods to your furry friend. If you have leftovers, store in an airtight container and refrigerate or freeze overnight for a frozen treat. If your pet is sensitive to dairy, I recommend considering alternative options like coconut milk and consulting your veterinarian. This recipe does not contain coffee or caffeine, as it is harmful to dogs and should be avoided when making homemade dog treats.

Special Note: Start by feeding your pup a small amount of this puppy latte. As with all new foods, it should be introduced slowly. Keep in mind, you can always freeze any reamining amount for future treats.

For another awesome recipe, check out our previous post, frozen watermelon recipe here, featuring fresh blueberries in an adorable paw print form.

 

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Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Native Pet Organic Pumpkin Powder
  • 6 ounces warm water
  • 1 ounce frothed milk or coconut milk

Supplies

  • Electric milk frother or whisk

Directions

  • In a small cup or bowl, combine water with pumpkin powder. Mix well with an electric milk frother or whisk.
  • Froth the milk and scoop onto the latte. Sprinkle pumpkin powder on top for garnish.

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